Guest Column: Focus on mass transportation instead

No one ever knows why there is a delay in construction of projects like the Peripheral Ring Road. The main issue is that the government wants to start everything together like the PRR, steel bridge, road widening, flyovers and underpasses.

Instead, it should put aside all such projects and only focus on rapid mass transportation systems like the Metro Rail, Suburban Rail and end- to -end connectivity.

The government should also focus on the needs of pedestrians and on making room for bicycling in the city as this will help reduce traffic on the roads. It needs to understand that the need of the hour is a good public transport system. Some European countries have advanced public Metro systems in their cities, which are the size of  Bengaluru. But we are lagging behind  due to delays in decision making.

The government should also realise that in the last two decades,  numerous flyovers, underpasses, subways and bridges have been built in Bengaluru, but have not helped reduce its traffic congestion. Construction of another elevated corridor or steel bridge will not help decongest the city either.